Alternative pain therapies Chronic pain well treatable without analgesics

Alternative treatments like yoga and massages show good results
Severe and chronic pain is a huge burden for affected patients. Many of these people are treated with strong pain relief medications. Researchers were now trying to find alternative ways to treat chronic pain. They found out that even forms of treatment such as yoga, massages and meditation can achieve effective results.

The scientists of U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) found in one study that chronic pain can be successfully treated through yoga, meditation and massage. So can be dispensed with large doses of prescription painkillers. The physicians published the results of their study of the medical journal "Mayo Clinic Proceedings".

Chronic pain plagues many people in Germany. We often use painkillers to treat this pain. Researchers were now looking for alternative ways to help affected people. (Image: Stefan Redel / fotolia.com)

Physicians are looking for treatments that are not addictive
Often in chronic pain, prescription drugs are used to relieve pain. But as a so-called opioid epidemic in the US is on the rise, doctors are looking for new ways to treat it. Wanted are treatments that do not lead to addiction. Not only in the US are chronic pain a big problem. Even in Germany, chronic pain is already a common disease. Many people in Germany live with severe pain every day. Experts even estimate that millions of Germans have chronic pain.

Experts are testing alternative forms of pain relief
The doctors in the US do not want to prescribe so many strong painkillers, thereby preventing an addiction occurring. The researchers have therefore been trying for some time to understand what options are still available for the treatment of chronic pain. For this purpose, the experts now tested whether alternative forms of pain relief can be successful. They examined the effects of massage, yoga and meditation on chronic pain.

Unfortunately, painkillers often have unwanted side effects and can be addictive
Medications often do not help to completely relieve chronic pain. In addition, such strong analgesics produce unwanted side effects, say the authors. Because of this, many Americans are looking for effective treatments without medication. And there actually seems to be some treatments without painkillers for Chronic Pain. Some time ago, medical professionals discovered that tai chi cures chronic pain and stress.

The effectiveness of Tai Chi and Yoga needed urgent review
Alternative forms of treatment such as acupuncture, tai chi and yoga are already used by many Americans for pain relief. So far, however, there has been little information about the effectiveness of these treatments, says Dr. Richard Nahin of U.S. Pat. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Such new forms of treatment without painkillers are extremely important. Because doctors assume that some painkillers can be the trigger for chronic pain.

Researchers are studying data from 105 clinical trials
The aim of the study was to provide high-quality information on primary care for patients with chronic pain Nahin. To do this, the researchers analyzed data from 105 clinical trials over the past fifty years.

Many methods lead to effective pain relief
There have been several alternative approaches to safe and effective pain relief. These included, for example, acupuncture and yoga for back pain, acupuncture and tai chi for osteoarthritis of the knee and relaxation techniques for severe headaches and migraines, the experts explain. In addition, the results of a massage therapy are promising for a short-term relief of neck pain. However, some evidence of effective therapy was somewhat weaker. A massage therapy can, for example, help with spinal manipulation to relieve the pain. Relaxation therapy and tai chi, on the other hand, are particularly helpful in people with fibromyalgia, the researchers report.

Further research is needed to verify the results
Further research now needs to find out how these alternative approaches actually work. Chronic pain is widespread and new treatments are urgently needed. The results of the new study will need to be applied and validated in a wide range of clinical settings and patient populations, adds David Shurtleff Deputy Director of the NCCIH. (As)